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PHYSICS --- WAVES 22 DECEMBER 2020

Wave is nothing but a disturbance. Vibration is being transferred as it propagates. A wave transmit energy from one place to
another in particular direction.

Some common waves are water waves, sound waves, light waves.

Two types of waves are TRANSVERSE WAVE and LONGITUDINAL WAVE.

Transverse wave is a wave in which the vibration of the particles is perpendicular in the direction of wave travel. Examples-
water ripples, waves in string and all electromagnetic waves.
Longitudinal wave is a wave in which the vibration of the particles are parallel to the direction of wave travel. Example- sound
waves.

Wavelength: distance between two successive crests or troughs or distance between two successive compression or rarefaction.

Amplitude: maximum displacement of the wave from its rest position.

Compression: region where particles are close together and has high pressure.

Rarefaction: region where particles are far from each other and has low pressure.

Frequency: number of oscillations per second.

Oscillation: back and forth movement in a regular pattern.

Speed = frequency x wavelength (speed in m/s, frequency in Hz, wavelength in m).

Frequency = 1 / time period. Wavelength is inversely proportional to frequency.

Speed = wavelength / time.

Increasing frequency, increases the number of complete waves per second.

Speed of a wave is the distance travelled by any point on the wave in 1 second.
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Wave-front is the line that joints all the peaks of a wave on all identical points on a wave.

Ripple tank: shallow glass bottomed tank containing small amount of water. A light shining downwards through the water
cast shadow of the ripples on the floor below, showing up the pattern that they made.
Spherical dipper can produce a different patterns of ripples. Ripple tank also demonstrate the reflection and refraction of a
wave.

Light – dense (wave bends towards the normal)

Dense – light (wave bends away from the normal)

Deep water- dense medium and higher speed.

Shallow water- less dense medium and lower speed.

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